Volunteers make communities

It's All About Winning

Well, here we are in June once again, and while for most of us, our hockey heroes are playing golf, or whatever it is they do in the summer, there are still those who are experiencing hockey fever.

By the time you read this Los Angeles may very well be the new NHL champions. I hope that is so.

Have you noticed how a city can become so pumped when their team is about to capture such a prized trophy? Los Angeles is alive with hockey energy. Those who may have never skated or felt the cold of the ice, all of a sudden, are experts in the game and are completely taken with this winter sport.

As I was thinking about this, my mind began to muse on some spiritual truths that are given to us in the word of God.

For example, like hockey players, if we are going to win, we must be disciplined. You will never see the coveted Stanley Cup go to a team that is not disciplined to hard work, to continuous practices. No matter how good last night’s game was, you will find a winning team on the ice the next morning going through the drills that made the win last night possible.

There must also be the discipline of working together. No one person ever wins a Stanley Cup, it’s a team effort. Even the great one will tell you that.

Well, what does this have to do with being a Christian? After all, isn’t everyone born in Canada a Christian?

The Bible makes it clear that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved, Acts 2:21. But then as we examine the teachings of Paul the Apostle, we find after we have believed we are to have a disciplined life, a life that reflects the character and nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For example, in Paul’s first letter to his young protégé, Timothy, he writes, “Fight the good fight of faith.” In the verse preceding, he warns Timothy to flee from things that are evil and pursue righteousness or right living according to God. 1 Tim. 6:11-12.

In his second letter to Timothy, he refers to his own life as he prepares for his end in chapter 4:7. He says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” That certainly is a picture of a disciplined life.

There is a difference though between winning the Stanley Cup and gaining eternal life. Only one team can lift the Cup in victory, but the Bible declares, “All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

That is everyone who comes to realize they are sinners, separated from God because of their sin, and come to know that Jesus came into this world to give His life to save us from sin, and then accept His payment for our sin, they will be saved.

I want to encourage you who have believed to live a disciplined life according to God’s word. If you are reading this and have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ why not begin right now?

Confess your sin to God, ask for His forgiveness, and follow Him. You’ll never regret that decision. May God bless you as you take this into consideration.

Rev. Duncan Perry,

Morrisburg

Pentecostal Tabernacle

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No, Love South Dundas

I heard a story about a pastor who announced that next Sunday was to be a special friendship Sunday. Everyone was encouraged to invite family and friends. He asked that the congregation go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly. 

After his announcement one dear lady was so inspired she turned to the gentleman behind her and greeted him warmly. “Excuse me,” he said, “that friendship stuff isn’t till next week.”

Obviously, there’s something wrong with that picture. Being kind and friendly are hardly things we are to schedule or limit to a certain period of time.

Maybe that’s why it’s okay that after five years Love South Dundas is being discontinued.

Love South Dundas was a combined effort of the churches of our area to show God’s love in tangible ways for two weeks during the month of June. 

Ditches were cleaned, graffiti was painted over, baked goods were given out, seniors’ residences were visited, and a whole host of other random acts of kindness were carried out.

For the last three years the event ended with a big outdoor fair with bouncy castles, children’s entertainers, face painting, a free barbecue, and all kinds of other great stuff. 

It was a lot of fun. A wonderful way to get together as a community. The event closed with a joint worship service in which a guest speaker shared the awesome message of salvation in Christ.

Overall, Love South Dundas was also a great way for the churches to get out of their walls to serve their community and in doing so to be a witness for God. It was also a powerful expression of the unity of the church. All these Christians working together as one. For some of us, this may be what we miss most.

But now Love South Dundas (at least for now) is no more. Maybe that’s okay. 

Serving the community and witnessing to it of God’s love really is to be something that is done year round. 

Hopefully Love South Dundas served as a catalyst for us churches to continue to work together. Hopefully it got us excited to be the salt and light that Christ calls us to be.

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